Can-opener.



H. IVI. CASWELL & F. SHERER.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY14. 1915.

1,153,690. v v PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

Herbert M40/aswell deZZu lmer EL, I @mmv wi/hummm CAN-OPENER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. M., 1915.

Application iled May 14, 1915. Serial No. 28,188.

To all fwhom it may concern Be it known that we, HERBERT M. CAS- wi-:LL and FmnLLUs SHERER, citizensof the United States. residing at Oatman, in the county of Mohave and State of Arizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to can openers', and it has for its object to produce a device of this class which will be simple in construction, inexpensive and effective in operation.

A further object of the invention is to produce a can opener comprising a handle consisting of a strip of metal, the same being bent to form a yoke between the limbs of which a blade of peculiar construction is received and secured.

A further object of the invention is to combine with the handle a guide device of special construction, the same being so connected with the limbs of the yoke as to assist in connecting said limbs together.

IVith these and other ends in view which will readily7 appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangementy and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise. structural details therein exhibited,

but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired. In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can opener constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front end View. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a. blade detached. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the guide member detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference. The handle A of the improved can opener consists of a strip of metal, the same being bent to form an elongated yoke or loop comprisiug side members 15 and bridge piece 16. The front ends of the limbs 15 are reduce to form lugs 17.

18 is a gage plate or guide having vertical slots 19 for the passage of the lugs 17 which are bent down on the plate 18, thereby securing the latter on the handle and assisting in securing the front ends of the limbs 15 together. The gage plate or guide is provided at the ends thereof with downwardly extending lugs 20 which are bent slightly in a forward direction, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 2.

The blade 21 has an upwardly extending shank 22 provided with a forwardly extending lug 23, said shank being'also provided with a forwardly extending plate 24, which lat-ter is inserted between the forward ends of the limbs l5 where it is secured by means of fastening members, such as rivets 25. A portion 26 of the cutting edge of the blade which extends rearwardly from the point 27 is straight, but the rearward portion of said cutting edge is curved upwardly in the direction of the handle, as seen at 28. rIhe underside of the forward portion ofthe handle, including the limbs 15 and the plate 21 clamped therebetween, is provided with a recess 29, the rearward portion of which is curved downwardly, as seen at 30, to meet the curved portion of the cutting edge of the blade. The cutting edge of the blade is preferably beveled on one side only, as will appear by reference to Fig. 5. Extending through the limbs or side members of the handle to the rearward of the cutting blade is a pivot member 31 on which is pivoted a cork screw 32, the same being housed when not in use in the loop portion of the handle, the side members 15 of which are provided with protuberances 33 on their inner faces to accommodate between them the shank 34: of the cork screw whichwill thus be held securely within its housing when not in use.

While the improved device is primarily a can opener, it will be vseen that the shank 22 having the lug 23 may be utilized as a cap detacher or bottle opener.

In the use of the improved can opener, the blade when pushed through the top of the can will make a clean cut, this being largely due to the upwardly curved rear portion of the cutting edge which will also in the ma- .nipulation of 'the device serve to form a clean cut without danger of tearing the tin, the cut edges being beveled or turned in an upward direction so as not to obstruct the discharge of the contents of the can when.

said contents is of a more or less solid nature. The guide lugs 20 of the gage plate will prevent the cutting blade from moving beyond the predetermined distance from the edge of the can, whether the opener be used by a right handed or a left handed person. By forming the blade or cutting member 21 with a shank having the forwardly extending plate 24, said plate extending between the limbs of the handle to the forward extremity thereof, the forward end of the handle is materially reinforced, and an eX- tended area is provided for the passage of the rivets or connecting` members 25, there` by enabling the blade to be very lirmly secured in such a manner as to prevent rocking motion thereof with respect to the handle due to long continued use and wear of the device. r1`he general construction is simple and inexpensive, and the device has been found to be thoroughly useful for the purpose for which it is provided.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new, is

1. In a can opener, a handle comprising a strip of metal bent to form an elongated loop, the limbs of which are terminally reduced to form lugs, and a gage plate having slots engaging said lugs, the latter being bent down on the face of the gage plate.

2. In a can opener, a handle comprising a strip of metal bent to form an elongated loop, the limbs of which are terminally reduced.` to form lugs, and a gage plate having slots engaging said lugs, the latter being bent down on the face of the gage plate, said gage plate being provided with terminal downwardly extending guide lugs.

3. In a can opener, a handle comprising a strip of metal bent to form an elongated loop, and a blade having a shank provided with a forwardly extending plate secured between the limbs of the handle.

4. In a can opener, a handle consisting of a strip of metal bent to form an elongated loop, and a blade having a shank provided with a forwardly extending plate secured between the limbs; the blade having a cutting edge including a straight forward portion and an upwardly curved rearward portion, and the handle including the limbs and the plate secured therebetween having a recess including a straight forward portion` and a rear wall that is curved downwardly tc meet the curved portion of the cutting e ge.

In testimony whereof we aliix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT M. CASWELL. FIDELLUS SHERER. Witnesses:

GEO. A. IIoYr, THos. HOGAN. 

